Tag: Saakashvili

Saakashvili’s personal agreement is needed to launch procedure of appointing him as Ukrainian PM – Poroshenko

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

KYIV. Sept 24 (Interfax) – Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has responded to an online petition asking him to appoint the Odesa region’s Governor Mikheil Saakashvili Ukraine’s prime minister. “The candidate’s personal agreement to take on this post is a necessary condition for launching the aforementioned procedure of appointing the prime minister of Ukraine. However, Saakashvili has not offered any comments […]

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Saakashvili for Prime Minister of Ukraine?

Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Marc Champion – September 23, 2015) After 24 years of independence and two revolutions, the promise of reforms that would turn Ukraine from a kleptocracy enabled by Soviet-era institutions into, say, Poland still hasn’t materialized. Popular patience is wearing thin. So three months ago, President Petro Poroshenko sent his friend (and Russia’s bete noire) Mikheil Saakashvili […]

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‘Team Georgia’ graftbusters open container of worms in Odesa clean-up

Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – Graham Stack in Odesa – September 21, 2015) Odesa region governor Mikheil Saakashvili wants to crack down on corruption and the shadow economy in Odesa’s ports, and with the appointment to the post of regional prosecutor of Davit Sakvarelidze he now has the power to do this. After intense lobbying in Kyiv, the former […]

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BNE: Ukraine reform guru urges more powers for Saakashvili after 100 days in office

Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Business New Europe – bne.eu – Graham Stack in Odesa – September 10, 2015) 47-year-old Sasha Borovik is one of the most colourful and controversial of Ukraine’s new team of radical reformers parachuted in to revamp the country’s corrupt and dysfunctional institutions. In early 2015 he broke off a high-flying career abroad as an IT lawyer with Microsoft and other […]

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Saakashvili is turning politics upside down in Ukraine

Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

Down on the Black Sea, the newly appointed governor of Odessa (and ex-president of Georgia) Mikheil Saakasvhili is making waves. Is the balance of the Ukrainian state beginning to shift? (opendemocracy.net – Victoria Narizhna – July 9, 2015) Victoria Narizhna is a Ukrainian columnist, essayist, translator, cultural manager, and civil activist from Dnipropetrovsk. During EuroMaidan, Yaroslav Hrytsak, one of Ukraine’s […]

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NEWSLINK Politico.eu/Mikhail Saakashvili: Poroshenko’s Four Ds. The Ukrainian president outlines the roadmap to “a new, democratic, European Ukraine.”

Newslinks, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
File photo of Barack Obama and Petro Poroshenko facing one another, with Obama gesturing

Post-Maidan Ukraine is at war. Not only against Russian invaders, but more generally against sovietism. This war has a military front in the East, but as important is the political, economic, social frontline in the rest of the country. Resisting the invaders and reforming the nation are two fronts of a same fight: the struggle for the emergence of a […]

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Saakashvili Says Ukraine Could ‘Conquer Russia,’ Provoking Official Outcry

Georgia, Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – February 9, 2015) Georgia’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili told a Ukrainian television channel over the weekend that Ukraine’s military could “conquer all of Russia,” a remark that incited the ire of Russian officials. Saakashvili was “born an idiot and will die one,” Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who oversees the country’s defense industry, said […]

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Saakashvili: Let Georgia be a lesson for what will happen to Ukraine; My country’s ordeal in 2008 suggests Crimea’s referendum is a trick for Russia to cement its territorial and military grip

Ukraine, Russo-Ukrainian War
Russian Naval Vessel in Ukrainian Port

(“Let Georgia be a lesson for what will happen to Ukraine; My country’s ordeal in 2008 suggests Crimea’s referendum is a trick for Russia to cement its territorial and military grip” – Mikheil Saakashvili, former President of Georgia – The Guardian – March 15, 2014) Mikheil Saakashvili, former President of Georgia, writes in The Guardian about the crisis in Ukraine, […]

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Interfax: Saakashvili leaves Georgia to give people a break from him – wife

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

TBILISI. Dec 2 (Interfax) – Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili temporarily refrains from participating in the politics in Georgia, his wife Sandra Roelofs, who is taking part in a conference on AIDS prevention held in Tbilisi as a good will ambassador of the World Health Organization, told reporters on Sunday. “He [Mikheil Saakashvili] is full of energy and is ready to […]

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SAAKASHVILI AND RUSSIAN OPPOSITION

Georgia, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Tblisi, Georgia, File Photo with Building with Tower on Hillside and City Buildings in Valley in Distance

[Excerpt] Date: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 15:32:56 -0500 From: Patrick Armstrong <gpa@magma.ca> Subject: [UTExpertsDiscGrp] RUSSIAN FEDERATION SITREP 20131128 RUSSIAN FEDERATION SITREP 28 November 2013 SAAKASHVILI AND RUSSIAN OPPOSITION. Remember when Moscow said a Georgian politician had secretly met with Russian oppositionists? Remember when everyone laughed? (“risible charges” details “immediately suspicious” “political”) Well, Saakashvili just admitted it. Once again, Moscow turns […]

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Interfax: Obama congratulates Georgian president elect, has kind word for Saakashvili

Georgia, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of Barack Obama Sitting at Desk with Mike McFaul Standing Next to Him Facing Him

TBILISI. Nov 17 (Interfax) – U.S. President Barack Obama has sent a message to Georgian president elect Giorgi Margvelashvili on his inauguration due in a few hours. “On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Georgia as they celebrate the inauguration of a new President and mark the first time a presidential transition has taken place as […]

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The polyphonic president

Georgia
Georgia Map

(opendemocracy.net – Peter Pomerantsev – November 1, 2013) Peter Pomerantsev is a British TV producer. For many years, he sold British programmes to the Russian TV industry. He now lives in London. Mikheil Saakashvili, ex-president of Georgia, was once hailed as the very archetype of a model post-Soviet leader ­ smooth-tongued and sharp-suited. But was the fluency in which he […]

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RIA Novosti: Georgian President-Elect Snubs Predecessor’s Luxury Palace

Georgia
Georgia Map

TBILISI, November 4 (RIA Novosti) ­ Georgia’s president-elect said he would not move to the luxury palace currently occupied by his predecessor and would choose a more modest residence after taking office, News Georgia reported on Monday. “During the electoral campaign, I have repeatedly expressed my disagreement with the size and cost of the presidential residence and said that the […]

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Interfax: Saakashvili says it’s time for Georgian people to take break from him

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

TBILISI. Oct 29 (Interfax) – Outgoing Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, whose term of office expires in November, made a farewell address to the nation from the Presidential Palace on Monday night. “My term of office is coming to an end and this is my last address delivered from the Presidential Palace. I would like to thank you for twice giving […]

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Interfax: Saakashvili says his imprisonment in Georgia is among preconditions for normal relations with Moscow

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

BRUSSELS. Oct 29 (Interfax) – Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili told journalists in Brussels on Tuesday that he believes his arrest is among the preconditions for normalization of relations between Moscow and Tbilisi. “As for my personal future, certainly, I have two or three weeks more to finish my presidential term. We have changed everything in this country in ten years. […]

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With Saakashvili Out, Russia-Georgia Ties Set to Improve, but Slowly

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Ivan Nechepurenko – October 29, 2013) Despite a complete change of leadership in Georgia sealed in Sunday’s presidential election, Russia and its southern neighbor remain on track only to crawl toward a strained reconciliation, due largely to the legacy of the bitter five-day war that the countries fought in 2008. Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia’s relentless modernizer […]

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Mikheil Saakashvili’s Polarizing Legacy

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – Claire Bigg – October 24, 2013) Few leaders have been as polarizing as Mikheil Saakashvili, Georgia’s outgoing president. To some, he is the hero of the “Rose Revolution,” the man who stamped out corruption and raised the country’s international profile. Others see him as an authoritarian leader who cracked down on dissent, persecuted his rivals, and […]

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Russia’s UN Delegation Walks Out During Saakashvili’s ‘Crazy’ Speech

Georgia, United Nations
UN Building file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Andrew McChesney September 26, 2013) [Video of speech here http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/russias-un-delegation-walks-out-during-saakashvilis-crazy-speech/486649.html] Outgoing Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili assailed Russia as “the last authoritarian empire in the world” during a speech to the UN General Assembly, and predicted that President Vladimir Putin would disappear from Russian politics, prompting the Russian delegation to walk out in protest. Russia’s ambassador […]

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Saakashvili intends to train winemakers, new political elite of Georgia

Georgia, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Interfax – TBILISI, September 24, 2013) U.S. President Barack Obama gave a positive assessment of the activities of his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Saakashvili, the Georgian president’s administration said. Saakashvili leaves a reformed and democratic society, the administration quoted Obama as saying during a meeting with the Georgian president in New York in a video of the meeting that was posted […]

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Putin Wants Me Dead or Caged, Georgia President Saakashvili Says

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – By Helena Bedwell, Henry Meyer, Hellmuth Tromm – August 26, 2013) Georgia’s outgoing President Mikheil Saakashvili said his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin wants him jailed or dead and urged the U.S. to help curb what he says is Russia’s rising influence over his country. Saakashvili, a 45-year-old American-educated lawyer who allied Georgia with the U.S. after […]

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Saakashvili plans to stay in Georgian politics

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Interfax  – TBILISI, July 18, 2013) Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili plans to continue his political career in Georgia after his second presidential term expires. “Georgia is a very small country, where the same recognizable persons will always continue replacing each other. Obviously, no one will disappear, and all of these people will be present in the government and in politics,” […]

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After Years Of Secret Tapes, Georgia Mulls How To Destroy Them

Georgia, Spies, Spy Allegations
Tblisi, Georgia, File Photo with Building with Tower on Hillside and City Buildings in Valley in Distance

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – Nona Mchedlishvili – June 17, 2013) How do you make a secret disappear? That’s the question Georgian officials and activists are mulling as they consider a stash of legally dubious phone and video recordings made by the Interior Ministry, mainly under the rule of President Mikheil Saakashvili. The current Interior Minister Irakli Garibashvili has pledged to […]

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Saakashvili administration criticizes investigation into 2008 war

Georgia
Map of Georgia

(Interfax – TBILISI, May 16, 2013) The Georgian presidential administration believes the investigation into the 2008 war and the attempts to accuse the previous government of Georgia increase the risk of South Ossetia and Abkhazia being recognized as different countries. “The attitude adopted by the new administration may lead to a catastrophic result for our country, and responsibility for it […]

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Saakashvili compares his political opponents to Caligula

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Interfax – TBILISI, May 12, 2013) Commenting on the nomination of the presidential candidate from the ruling coalition Georgian Dream, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili recalled an old joke about Roman Emperor Caligula who made his horse a senator. Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili earlier said the presidential candidate from Georgian Dream will be Giorgy Margvelashvili, deputy prime minister and education […]

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Georgia’s Changing Russia Policy

Georgia
Map of Georgia

(RFE/RL – rferl.org – Brian Whitmore – April 29, 2013) TBILISI – Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili says resolving his country’s conflicts with Russia is his “big dream.” But it’s a dream that has him locked in a war of words with President Mikheil Saakashvili and his allies. Saakashvili slammed Ivanishvili on April 23 for saying, in remarks to the […]

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Georgian minister blames Saakashvili for prompting Russia to recognize S. Ossetia, Abkhazia

Georgia
Georgia Map

(Interfax – TBILISI. April 17, 2013) Georgian State Minister for Reintegration Paata Zakareishvili has accused President Mikheil Saakashvili for provoking Russia into occupying the territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and then recognizing their independence. “For instance, in line with international agreements, Georgia did not have the right to deploy its troops in the Kodori Gorge of Abkhazia controlled by […]

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Georgian parliamentarian slams Saakashvili recollection of U.S. role in August 2008 war

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Interfax – TBILISI. April 17, 2013) A member of the Georgian parliamentary majority harshly criticized some of President Mikheil Saakashvili’s recollections of details of the August 2008 war with Russia over South Ossetia in an interview shown on Rustavi-2 television. “Saakashvili’s statement that the United States considered the possibility of bombarding the Roki Tunnel during the August war will certainly […]

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Saakashvili Wants Improvement in Relations with Russia

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(RIA Novosti – TBILISI, April 17, 2013) Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said on Tuesday he was not against mending diplomatic relations with Russia that were severed several years ago. “I am one of those supporting the improvement of these relations. It was my initiative to lift the visa regime with Russia so that more Russian tourists could visit Georgia,” Saakashvili […]

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Saakashvili untouchable, cannot be forced to be questioned on 2008 war – Georgia’s chief prosecutor

Georgia
Mikheil Saakashvili file photo

(Interfax – TBILISI. April 16, 2013) If Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili does not want to be questioned on the South Ossetian-Georgian conflict in August 2008, then he cannot be, Georgia’s chief prosecutor Archil Kbilashvili said. “The president is untouchable and there are no judicial mechanisms which would permit him to be interrogated,” Kbilashvili told reporters on Tuesday. Georgian Prime Minister […]

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Saakashvili accuses Ivanishvili team of looking to Russia

Georgia
Georgia Map

TBILISI. Jan 12 (Interfax) – Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has accused Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili of an attempt to change Georgia’s foreign policy. At the ceremony for introducing the new governors, which was held in the presidential palace on Saturday, Saakashvili said Ivanishvili in his recent interview had said that he had to “repel” the attacks of the Western world […]

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